Ventilating device



Patented Nev. 2, isis M y VENTmATING DEVICE `Karl M. Ganzer and John B. Bun-owes. Dayton,

l(glnio. signora to'The Lan Blower Company.

y yton. 9h10, a corporation of Ohio Application Marcelo. m1. 10.133.494

This invention relates to ventilating fans.v One of the principal objects lof the-'invention is to provide a portable Ventilating ian ci simple land lightweight but strongconstruction which is adapted to be placed before a window` for exhaust purposes or to draw in fresh air and which is self supporting and requires no special mounting.

An additional object is to provide such a ventilating fan which will be highly compact, particularly from front to back, and which is constructed to offer maximum protection both to the tan blades and motor and also to any person or object coming in contact therewith.'

Another object ls to provide such a portable Ventilating fan wherein the operating parts are constructed and arranged for ready concealment by grill work or the like which both shields these parts from view to enhance the appearance of the fan and also protects both the fan andthe user. Y

It is also an object of the invention to provide a portable Ventilating fan wherein all parts are mounted on a single main panel provided -with legs adapted to support the fan' in a desired perating position without other installation. v

A further object is to provides. portable venti# lating fan wherein the screen or grill surrounding at least a portion of the fan blades and 'motor also serves to brace the framework of -thefan and thus to aid in supporting the weight ofV the motor and absorbing the-vibrations incident to use. n

A further object is to provide a portable ventilating fan of light but strong construction which is adapted for use in a standing position or which may also be used satisfactorily in suspended position to provide for a ilow of air other than horizontal.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description. the accompanying drawing and the appended claims.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the iront of a Ventilating fan constructed in accordance with the present invention; l

Fig. 2 is a view ln perspective of the back of the fan shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the fan shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in horizontal section taken substantially on the line l-l of Fig. 3: and

Figs. 5 and -are diagrammatic views in perlspectivefillustrating theuse of the ian'when susi pendedindlfierent"angularpositions,l .n

`the malnframe forthe l' Referring to` `the drawing; which illustrates 'a preferred 'embodiment of the present invention,

fan is shown'as a sheet metal .panel i0 'of rectangular `shape having a large circular openingl l'i'v through vthe center thereof. "The metal surrounding this 'opening il is curved forwardly to 'for'x'n a flange I2 to provide a control ring for the i'an; and panel l0 is also bent rearwardly along' its edges to provide a'resrwardly extending peripheral'ilange il.' A relatively narrow supplemental panel Il or back 'strip has its ends curved forwardly at il and secured. as by welding. to the inner surface of flange il at opposite sides of mainpanel il, thus positioning the main part oi'this' supplemental panel in spaced parallel relation with .the main panel and overlying the center `oi' the opening ii. 'Also. the supplemental panel I l, is formed with an outwardly projecting 'rib I1 for increasing its rigidity.

- An electric motor 2li is mounted on the supplemental Vpanel i5, and extends with its drive shaft of relatively -stiiisheet eil'ect. Also, the anged ends 26 il substantially centrallyahroughopening il in the main" panel. -Ajs best -seenf in 4, the mounting for this motor includesa plate' 22 metal to lwhich the motor is removably secured as 'by means of Athe nuts and bolts 23. This mounting plate 'extends substantially across the straight portion of supplemental panel I S and has its ends 2t flanged as shown in Fig. 4 for attachmentv to the supplemental panel as by means of nuts and bolts' 25. This construction provides for supporting the weight of the motor at spaced points on'panei i5 so located that its curved portions l 6 have a bracing action against twisting of the panel under the angular force imparted by the Vweight of the motor, and the vsides 26 of plate 22- may also be bent over as shown to provide additional stiffening vide for offsetting the plate from'panel ill,1 as shown in Fig. 4, to accommodate the outer ends oi the mounting nuts and bolts 2l for' the motor.

Referring particularly to Fig. d. it will be seen that the motor 20 andits shaft 2| project through opening il and beyond the plane of the main panel lli, and in order to provide for compact ness and to position the. fan blades properlyvin the plane of the main panel to draw air through opening Ii, shown. this hub is secured to shaft 2| and includes at its rearward end a radially projecting ilange Il. and this ange is extended to form three tabs of plate 22 pro-v a hub i0 of special design is used. As

and control ring l2 for or fins 32 which are bent rearwardly and overlap the forward end of the motor. Fan blades 33 are in turnA secured to these tabs 32, for example by bending the ends of the tabs outwardly and bolting or riveting the fan blades thereto. This construction 'thus provides for reducing the required depth of the fan as a whole from front to back to not substantially more than the axial length of the motor and its shaft while at the same time positioning the fan blades directly within the central opening II of the main panel I and substantially in the plane of this panel proper and eillcient operation.

Protective screens are providedat both the back and front of the fan. Referring particularly to Figs. 2 to 4, the screen 40 at the back of the fan is shown as formed in two parts from a relatively close-mesh screening such as sheet metal grillwork. These two grills have their edges secured, as by welding, to the inner surfaces of flange I3 and supplemental panel I5, and they thus aid in bracing the supplemental and main panels relative to each other to provide further support for the weight of motor 20. ,The corners of screen 40 are curved, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, both for purposes of strength and to provide a rounded and pleasing appearance, and means are also provided for protecting these corners in transportation or use. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, protective ribs 42 each have one end secured as by welding to the corners of ange I3 on the main panel III, and these ribs are curved to overlie the corners of screen 40, with their outer ends free as shown in Fig. 2. These ribs thus serve to brace the corners of screen 40 and also to shield them in transportation and use.

The screen 44 at the front of the fan is shown as a relatively open-mesh wire screen having a rectangular outer rim 45 which is removably mounted at the front of main panel I0 by means such as the screw clamps 46. The remainder of screen 44 is curved forwardly and inwardly from its rim 45 to overlie the center of the fan and to shield the blades from coming into contact with any person or object in use, and as shown In Fig. 4, the middle portion of this screen is spaced from the supplemental panel I5 and back screen 40 by only slightly more than the axial length of motor and its shaft 2|, thus further contributing to the compactness of the fan. Also, the use of removablev clamps 48 for mounting screen 44 facilitates its ready removal for replacement or servicing of the motor 20 or any of its associated or component parts;

Means are provided for supporting the fan for operation in an upright' position, and these supporting means also serve toprovide additional bracing for the main framework. p Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3 the supporting means are shown as apair of brackets or legs each including a horizontal portion 50 and a portion 5I extending upwardly from the rearward end of the horizontal portion 50. This upwardly extending portion of each leg is secured to the supplemental panel I5, as by means of one of the bolts which connect the supplemental panel and the mounting plate 2,2 for the motor, and the horizontal leg portions 50 are similarly secured to the main panel I0, as by bolting to its peripheral flange I3, thus providing additional tal leg portions 50 extend from a position forward of the plane of main panel I0 to a position spaced rearwardly beyond the plane of supplemental panel II, to provide an elongated supporting base adapted to rest upon a suitable horizontal surface, and the opposite ends of leg portions 50 may also be equipped with suitable feet such as rubber grommets 52 as shown in Fig. 3. This construction provides for supporting the fan in well balanced upright position for operation, Awith the rearward feet'52 spaced sumciently behind the plane of blades 33 to support the angular thrust on the fan in use and prevent its overtipping.

A control switch is mounted on the fan in a convenient but relatively inconspicuous position. A switch box is shown as mounted at the back of main panel I0 and adjacent one corner, where it will be substantially concealed by ilange I3 and the rear screen 40, and the wires 56 from this It will accordingly be seen that the presentA invention provides a fan of simple and highly compact but strong and rigid construction which is adapted for use for many Ventilating purposes. In these fans, the component parts of the frame are so formed and interconnected as to brace each other effectively against the stresses and vibrations incident to use and thus provide for the incorporation of fan blades and a motor of large capacity in a frame of convenient dimensions capable of portable use for many ventilation purposes. For example, fans constructed as described and shown in the drawing have been successfully produced and operated with blades of 9-inch radius in a frame only approximately 22 inches square by '7.75 inches from front to back including leg portions 50, and with a total weight of only about 25 pounds, and such a fan is capable of delivering an air flow as high as 1800 cubic feet per minute.

It will accordingly be seen that such fans can be placed on a window sill, or on a table or other supporting surface near a window.v and will operate to provide forced ventilation either inwardly or outwardly of the window with no permanent mounting or other additional supporting parts and occupying very little space. Also. the com.

pact construction of these fans further facilitates their portable use in that they occupy equally little space in storage or transportation, and at the v same time they are of pleasing appearance in particularly to provide for directing the air stream braces between the main and supplemental panels to support the weight and vibration of the motor and fan blades. As shown in Fig. 3, the horizonat an angle to the horizontal. For such uses, the fan may readily be suspended by means such as chains attached to the front or back screens, and the construction of the fan as described and shown in Figs. l to 4 provides for such location of the center of gravity, that when the fan is suspended,

' to the back screen of the fan, for example by means of hooks 63 which are readily attached to the screen. Fig. 6 shows a similar mounting of the fan in which the chains 62 are attached to the front screen of the fan.

As shown in Fig. 5, when the suspending chains are attached to the back screen, the fan hangs in a forwardly tilted position, thus providing for directing the air flow into the room at a downwardly inclined angle. In the position shown in Fig. 6, the fan tilts backward and thus directs the air flow upwardly into the room. If the fan is turned to face the window, the air flow will' be similarly angularly directed towards and out through the window.

While the form of apparatus herein described I constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the linvention which is defined in the appended claims. y

What is claimed is:

1. A portable Ventilating fan of the character described comprising a main panel having a central opening, a relatively narrow supplemental panel overlying said opening, means securing said supplemental panel to said main panel in spaced and parallel relation, a motor having a shaft, fan blades on said shaft of said motor, means mounting said motor on said supplemental panel with said fan blades positioned substantially centrally of said opening in said main panel, and means connected with both of said panels and constructed both to form supporting legs for said fan and tobrace said panels relative to each other.

2. A portable Ventilating fan of the character described comprising a main panel having a central opening, a relatively narrow supplemental panel spaced rearwardly from said main panel and arranged horizontally to overlie saidopening, means securing said supplemental and main panels together, a motor having a drive shaft, means securing said motor to said supplemental panel and with said motor and shaft extending through said opening in said main panel, a fan having fan blades and a hub mounted on said shaft, said hub being' spaced forwardly of said blades providing for positioning said blades substantially in the plane of said main panel, and screen means secured to both sides of said main panel to guard said fan blades, said screen means y at the back of said main panel being also secured to said supplemental panel-to brace said panels relative to each other.-

3. A portable Ventilating fan of the character described comprising a main panel of generally rectangular shape having a rearwardly extending peripheral flange, said panel having a central opening therethrough of substantial size, a relatively narrow supplemental panel having its ends secured to opposite sides of said main panel and with the remainder thereof spaced rear-l wardly from the plane of said main panel and extending horizontally across said opening. a motor, means mounting said motor on. said supplemental panel substantially centrally of said opening in said main panel, fan blades operatively carried by said motor, and a ,pair of supporting legs for said fan each including a horizontal portion adapted to rest upon a supporting surface and an upwardly extending portion, said horizontal portion being secured to said main panel and said upwardly extending portion being secured to said supplemental panel to support said] fan in an upright position and to brace said panels relative to each other.

4. A portable Ventilating fan of the character described comprising a main panel of generally rectangular shape having a rearwardly extending peripheral flange, said main panel having a central opening therethrough of substantial size, a relatively narrow supplemental panel havingits ends curved forwardly and secured to said'flange at opposite sides of said main panel to space the remainder thereof rearwardly from the plane of said main panel and overlying said opening, a motor, means mounting `said motor on said supplemental panel substantially centrally of said opening in said main panel, said mounting means being connected with said supplemental panel at spaced points adjacent said curved panel ends with said curved ends bracing the intermediate portion of said panel against the weight of said motor, fan blades operatively carried by said motorl;protective Vscreens mounted at the front and back of said main panel, and means secured to said main panel for supporting said fan in operative position.

5. A portable Ventilating fan of the character described comprising a main panel of generally rectangular shape having a. rearwardly extending peripheral flange, said main panel having a central opening therethrough of substantial size, a relatively narrow supplemental panel having its ends secured to opposite sides of said main panel and with the remainder thereof spaced rear wardly from the plane of said main panel and overlying said opening, a motor, means mounting said motor on said supplemental panel substantially centrally of said opening in said main panel, fan blades operatively carried by said motor, a protective screen mounted at the front of said main panel, a protective screen fixedly secured to said flange on said main panel and to said i supplemental panel to protect the back of said fan and to brace said panels relative to each other, said front screen being of relatively open mesh, said back screen being of relatively close mesh and having curved cornerv portions, protective ribs for said screen corners secured at one end to saidilange on said main panel and being curved over said screen corners with their opposite ends free, and means secured to said main panel for supporting said fan in operative position.

6. A portable Ventilating fan of the character described comprising a. main panel having a central opening, a relatively narrow supplemental panel overlying said opening, means securing said supplemental panel to said main panel in rearwardly spaced and parallel relation, a motor having a shaft, fan blades on said shaft of said motor, means mounting said motor on said supplemental panel with said fan blades positioned substantially centrally of said opening in said main panel, and supporting legs for said fan each including a horizontal portion adapted` to rest comprising a main panel having a central openl ing. a relatively narrow supplemental panel arranged in rearwardly spaced and parallel relation with said main panel, said supplemental panel being arranged horizontally oi said opening, and having its end portions curved forwardly and 4 secured to opposite, sides of said main panel, a

mounting plate removably secured to said supplemental panel, a fan motor secured to said mounting plate, said plate being of sumcient length to provide for securing opposite ends thereof to said supplemental panel at spaced points adjacent said curved ends of said panel and with said curved panel ends bracing the intermediate portion of said panel against the weight of said motor, fan blades operatively carried by said motor, a screen secured to said main and supplemental panels to protect the back of said fan and to brace said panels relatively to each other, a screen positioned at the front of said main panel, means removably securing said front screen to said main panel and providingl for removal thereof for servicing of said motor, and supporting legs for said fan including horizontal portions extending from front to back thereof to support said fan at a plurality of spaced points, Said horizontal leg portions being secured to said main panel, said legs including braces secured to said supplemental panel and to said horizontal leg portions to add additional rigidity to said fan construction.

8. A Ventilating fan of the character described comprising a main panel having a central opening, a supplemental panel secured to said main panel and spaced rearwardly therefrom, front and back screens secured to said main panel, a motor having a drive shaft, the axial length of said motor and shaft being not substantially less than the distance between said supplemental -panel and said front screen, a hub mounted on said shaft and provided with a radial flange, said flange having tab portions extending rearwardly therefrom substantially parallel to said shaft and radially-beyond said motor, and fan blades secured to said tabs and positioned substantially in the plane of said main panel.

9. A ventilating fanof the character described comprising a rectangular main panel having a central opening and including a rearwardly extending peripheral ange, a relatively narrow supplemental panel spaced rearwardly from said main paneland having its ends curved forward and secured to said flange at opposite sides of said main panel, a screen having its edges secured to said flange and said supplemental panel to overlie the rear of said fan, protective ribs for the corners of said screen each secured at one end to the corners of said flange and curved to overlie the corners of said screen, a fan motor including a shaft, means for mounting said motor on said supplemental panel and extending through said opening vin said main panel, a hub on said shaft including fins extending rst radially and then rearwardly relative to the axis of said hub, fan blades secured to said fins and positioned thereby substantially in the plane of said main panel, a screen removably mounted on the front of said main panel, and means secured to said main and supplemental panels and adapted to rest on a horizontal surface to support said fan in an upright position.

10. A I portable Ventilating fan of the character described comprising a main panel having a central opening,` a relatively narrow supplemental panel overlying said opening, means securing said supplemental panel to said main panel in spaced and parallel relation, front and back screens positioned at the front and back of said main panel and secured thereto, means for suspending said fan from a support, said screens being constructed for ready attachment to said supporting means, a motor` having a shaft, fan blades on said shaft of said motor, and means mounting said motor on said supplemental panel with said fan blades positioned substantially centrally of said. opening and with the center of gravity of said fan so located that said fan will tilt rearwardly when suspended with said suspending means attached to said front screen and will tilt forwardly when suspended with said suspending means attached to said -back screen.

KARL M. GANGER. JOHN B. BURROWES.

No references cited. 

